MLB Betting Odds – Blackburn, Red-Hot Twins Look to Handle Vargas, Reeling Mariners

Staff ace Nick Blackburn and the streaking Minnesota Twins will look to extend their winning ways and cover the MLB betting odds when they battle Jason Vargas and the reeling Seattle Mariners in the second game of a three-game set at Safeco Field tonight at 10 PM ET.

Tuesday, June 1, 10:10 PM ET
MLB Odds
Minnesota Twins +1½ -210 -110
Nick Blackburn –R
Seattle Mariners -1½ +175 -110
Jason Vargas –L
Over 8 -105
Under 8 -115

TV: FS-N, FSN, MLB TV
Radio: Sirius 182, 1500 ESPN, 710 ESPN

Minnesota Twins (31-20 SU, 21-26-4 O/U, 26-25 RL)
Seattle Mariners (19-31 SU, 22-25-3 O/U, 25-25 RL)

The Twins have won five straight games including a narrow 5-4 win over the Mariners on Monday night. Delmon Young went 2-for-4 with a two-run jack to help Minnesota cash in for pro baseball bettors as a -135 road favorite while the game’s final score played Over the 7-run O/U total.

Here is a look at tonight’s key head-to-head trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and expert MLB Picks.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Seattle.

Minnesota 411
Twins are 7-0 in their last 7 vs. American League West.
Twins are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
Twins are 4-0 in Blackburn’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Twins are 12-2 in Blackburn’s last 14 starts.

Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for the Twins while Francisco Liriano limited the Mariners to three runs over six innings to get the win for Minnesota.

Seattle 411
Mariners are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. American League Central.
Mariners are 5-12 in their last 17 home games.
Mariners are 8-20 in their last 28 overall.
Mariners are 5-1 in Vargas’ last 6 home starts.

Milton Bradley drove in two runs for Seattle as losing pitcher Doug Fister was tagged for five runs in 7.2 innings for the Mariners.

The Starters: Tonight, the Twins will give the ball to their staff ace Nick Blackburn (6-1, 4.28 ERA) while the Mariners counter with gifted young southpaw Jason Vargas (3-2, 3.12 ERA).

Blackburn has gone 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA over his last three starts and limited the Yankees to two runs over seven innings in his last start to lead Minnesota to an emphatic 8-2 win on Thursday and has not dropped a game since April 11.

Vargas has been very solid for the M’s this season, not allowing more than three earned runs in nine consecutive starts. The gifted young hurler limited the Tigers to two runs on seven hits on Wednesday, but lasted only five innings in his shortest start of the season.

Analysis: After picking the offensively-challenged Mariners to squeak past the Twins on Monday, I’ve come back to my senses and have the Minnesota Twins winning this contest tonight behind Nick Blackburn.

The Twins have gone a perfect 7-0 in their last seven games against AL West ballclubs and an equally impressive 4-0 in Blackburn’s last four starts against a team with a losing record.

The Mariners may have recorded a bankroll-boosting 5-1 record in Jason Vargas’ last six home starts, but they’ve also gone a dismal 5-12 in their last 17 home games and a pitiful 8-20 in their last 28 games overall.

The Twins have gone 12-2 in Nick Blackburn’s last 14 starts and the easy pick to win this game straight up and cover the MLB betting money line at the very least.